Gallatin Media Center

 

On February 28, 2024, at 9:43 am, West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch received a 911 call from a snowmobiler who was recreating with a group of friends when a member of the group crashed their snowmobile in the creek and sustained serious injuries. The caller indicated the injured snowmobiler was in severe pain and on a snowmobile that was still in the creek near Two Top Loop, 4.2 miles south of West Yellowstone, Montana.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers from the West Yellowstone detachment, West Yellowstone Police Department, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the request for aid.  Due to the patient being in the creek and reporting severe injuries, it was determined the best and most efficient way for responders to assist would be through via use of snowmobiles and a specialized snowmobile towed “snowbulance.”  Members from GCSSAR extracted the patient from the creek and packaged them for transport from the location by snowbulance to a staged Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District ambulance. Weather prevented air ambulance from getting to West Yellowstone, so the patient was evacuated to a safe location and handed off during transit to Air Idaho for transport to Eastern Idaho Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the original reporting party for providing emergency responders critical information that allowed the proper resources to be dispatched to ensure a hasty and efficient response from rescue teams. Sheriff Springer would also like to remind backcountry enthusiasts to always have the means to communicate with emergency services, and to always pack enough supplies and clothing in case of unforeseen emergencies in the backcountry.

For Immediate Release: February 22, 2024

Over 75% of e-cigarette users don’t dispose of their devices properly, with a majority of them putting these devices in the trash.  With 26% of youth and 6% of adults in Montana regularly using these products, there is a big risk of harming the environment if this problem is not addressed. In response to this challenge, the Gallatin City-County Health Department has collaborated with Gallatin County Solid Waste Management to establish an e-cigarette disposal program to reduce the number of e-cigarettes that end up in our landfills.

Read the full press release here.

On February 19, 2024, at 6:00 pm Gallatin County Dispatch received a text to 911 from a snowmobiler who advised two people were stuck and unable to provide an exact location. Triangulation of the caller’s cell phone showed it to be in the Sunlight Basin area south of Big Sky.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section gathered and responded to the Taylor Fork area. One team of four experienced snowmobilers responded to the caller’s location, while another team was positioned to be able to relay emergency responder communications.

Volunteers were finally able to locate the two snowmobilers well after dark. One snowmobiler was found to have had a minor injury to the hand, but they were otherwise in good health. Rescuers attempted to lead the two snowmobilers out to the trailhead, however the conditions were unsafe to continue. Due to poor snow conditions and elevated avalanche danger, the decision was made to bivouac overnight and reassess the situation during daylight hours.

The following morning, after confirming the poor snow conditions avalanche danger, it was determined that a helicopter extraction of all personnel and snowmobiles would be the safest, most expedient course of action. Central Copters was able to insert rescuers into the area and all personnel were transported to a landing zone on Taylor’s Fork Road.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind backcountry enthusiasts to be prepared for changing conditions and have the gear to stay overnight. As always please check the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center for the current Avalanche Forecast for the area you will be recreating in.

For immediate release: February 12, 2024

On February 10, 2024, at 2:34pm, West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch received a 911 call from a snowmobiler who was recreating with a friend when their group was flagged down by a snowmobiler who had sustained serious injuries. The caller indicated the injured snowmobiler was unable to ride their snowmobile out and was in need of immediate medical treatment near Cabin Creek, 17.5 miles north of West Yellowstone, Montana.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers from the West Yellowstone detachment, GCSSAR Big Sky detachment, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District, and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the request for aid. The GCSSAR team members, along with law enforcement, communicated with the initial caller over cell phone to establish critical details leading to how best to serve the injured individual. Due to the remote backcountry location of the victim, it was determined the best and most efficient way for responders to assist would be through utilization of a helicopter. Billings Clinic Medical Flight Team was dispatched to assist with the rescue. Quick-reaction teams from GCSSAR West Yellowstone and Big Sky also responded with snowmobiles and a specialized snowmobile towed ambulance. The victim was air lifted from the remote backcountry location in Cabin Creek to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the passerby snowmobilers whose quick action, effective communication, and GPS capabilities allowed the proper resources to be dispatched to ensure a hasty and efficient response from rescue teams.

On February 9, 2024, at 12:12pm, West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a cross-county skier who had encountered a fellow skier who had injured their leg and lost consciousness for an unknown amount of time. The caller indicated that the skier was in need of immediate medical treatment near Jerry’s Journey on the Rendezvous Ski Trail, 2 miles south of West Yellowstone, Montana.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers from the West Yellowstone detachment, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District (HBRFD), and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the request for aid. The GCSSAR team members established due to groomed snow conditions and the injured skier’s location on the Rendezvous Ski Trail, a tracked four-wheeler and a snowmobile response would serve the patient best. GCSSAR members arrived on scene and assisted the patient. The patient was transported from the scene of the accident by a specialized tracked four-wheeler towed ambulance to a waiting HBRFD ambulance for further evaluation. The injured skier declined further medical treatment and was released after being evaluated.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the passerby skiers who provided detailed information pertaining to the location and extent of the skier’s injuries and waited with the injured skier until emergency services arrived on scene. Sheriff Springer would like to remind outdoor recreationists that having the proper equipment to establish location and contact emergency services leads to the quickest and most efficient response from emergency personnel.

 

For immediate release: Feb. 9, 2024

Media contact:
Caitlin Quisenberry, Fairgrounds Director
406-582-3270
caitlin.quisenberry@gallatin.mt.gov 

Gallatin County Fairgrounds Hosting Community Visioning Open House

As a central, multi-purpose space that our community has used to gather for over 100 years, the Gallatin County Fairgrounds is an important cultural destination and asset for our region. In order to continue holding that honored space in the lives of our community, we’re embarking on a community visioning and master planning process to understand how to best update and utilize this space in perpetuity.

Join us for the Gallatin County Fairgrounds community visioning open house on Thursday, Feb. 29. The event will be from 5-7 PM at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds (901 N. Black Ave. in Bozeman) in Exhibit Building 4. Light refreshments will be served!

This is a first step in the planning process and will focus on understanding the public’s diverse perspectives related to existing strengths, challenges and experiences at the fairgrounds, as well as needs and ideas for the future.

Questions? Contact Caitlin Quisenberry, fairgrounds director, at caitlin.quisenberry@gallatin.mt.gov or 406-582-3270.

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 **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office reports on February 7, 2024, the missing medical items from Big Sky Resort were located. A third-party shipping company at the resort for an unrelated event, mistakenly repackaged all the items and transported them to a warehouse in the Gallatin Valley. Due to the repackaging none of the items were observed being moved out of the facility on security cameras. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public and businesses who assisted in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion.

 **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office received a theft report in Big Sky on February 4^th.  According to the reporting parties between the hours of 3:00 pm February 2^nd and 7:00 am February 3^rd, several Pelican hard cases and cardboard shipping boxes were stolen from the Yellowstone Conference Center in the Big Sky Resort.  The boxes contain specialized medical equipment including ultrasound machines and transducers which have serial numbers and are highly trackable, some of which are shown below.  In addition, medical journal magazines and training equipment were stolen. The Big Sky Resort has been fully cooperating and supporting this active investigation. The Sheriff’s Office is also asking for assistance from anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity during the above hours matching items being taken from the Conference Center or have seen the cases or equipment held or discarded elsewhere.  There is an anonymous reward of $5000.00 for information that leads to the recovery of the items.  Please contact the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office at 406-582-2100, Extension 2 with any information.

On February 4, 2024, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were flagged down by a mother, who informed them that her 12-year-old child had ran away from a local indoor trampoline park in the Four Corners Area. Deputies searched the area before calling Gallatin County Search and Rescue to assist.

While on their way to the area to assist, a Search and Rescue Member spotted a child matching the missing juvenile’s description walking southbound along Highway 191 near Axtell Anceny Road. The Search and Rescue Member stopped and spoke with the child before Deputies arrived on scene and confirmed it was the missing child.

The child was in good health and was given a ride back home and returned to the care of his mother. Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the sharp-eyed Search and Rescue volunteer for locating the child before they could come to harm.